"...to seek and to find the past, a lineage, a history, a family built on a flesh and bone foundation."

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Those Places Thursday: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea

On the train on the way to Bray.

There is something about the sea which is seductive to the soul. Perhaps it is the caress of salt air fresh against our faces, or on a much deeper level, our primordial connection to nature. Maybe it is the seemingly never ending horizon which meets the sea, and draws us in, reminding us of all the possibilities offered by life.

This is the sea my mother loved, the Irish sea, on the east side of the island. This is the sea I first fell in love with when I was a child. It reminds me of an old song my mom used to sing every once in a while:

'By the sea, by the sea,

by the beautiful sea,

You and me, you and me,

Oh how happy we'll be'...

The Irish sea from the best vantage point in Bray, County Wicklow, known as Bray Head, holds memories of a wonderful day when I was thirteen years old, and my brother and I climbed to the top of the mountain with two of our cousins. If you peer into the photograph below you will notice a large cross on the top of the mountain. We were determined to have a close-up look at it. When I look at Bray Head now, I am in awe of it, but it also makes me laugh because it reminds me of the fearlessness that childhood gives you. The climb that day was wonderful, and wonderfully terrifying. The view from the top was well worth it. It seemed as though the sea went on forever.

Along the strand looking toward Bray Head

The dog in the photograph swims everyday, as his mistress runs alongside him on the shore.

6 comments:

Lovely Jennifer. The sea is so restorative isn't it, but I admit I have an Aussie "thing" about white sand ;-) That dog and his mistress must be determinedly fit -as were you and your brother and cousins when climbing Bray Head.

Thanks for your comments; they are much appreciated. I too like nice soft white sand. I took off my shoes and 'ouched' my way across a short span of stones to put my feet into the water on this day. When I first saw the dog I felt a bit nervous because he seemed so far out, but when I spoke to the very fit woman with him, she said he would swim back and forth all day if he could. :):)

Delighful post Jennifer and so love the photos. Reminds me that my,"I'm BRITISH and proud of it!", Dad hated our Oz sandy beaches and, when we were able to entice him down, wore shoes and socks so the sand wouldn't get between his toes:-).... Thanks for sharing your joyous memories.Cheers, Catherine.

Fortunately, not all Irish beaches are rocky, like this one at Bray. There are beautiful sandy beaches in Donegal, Kerry, Cork, and Galway, among others. There is one little spot in particular on the Dingle Peninsula which holds a special place in my heart. My father and brother played hurly there one bright afternoon, while my mom and I scurried up and down the beautiful white sand beach, and played in the ocean. I’ve only been to Liverpool, London, and bits of Kent, so have not had a chance to enjoy the beaches in Britain.

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Leave a comment, if you feel so inclined; I really appreciate comments. Also, when you have a moment check out the blog archive or click on 'Older Posts' to have a look at topics from the past. I hope the sun is shining on your part of the world today. Cheers! Jennifer